Prayer To Preach God's Words

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you want to preach GOD's Words? If yes, then you need to know how to pray for it.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To share what's the content of prayer of boldness to preach GOD's Words.

IV. TEXT:

Acts 4:29-30 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.

Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

V. THESIS:

These are the contents of the prayer for preaching GOD's Words.

VI. TITLE:

Prayer to Preach GOD's Words

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Dr. Luke, the beloved physician

B. Main Theme: Missionary Campaigns in the Early Church

C. Key text: Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Consider their threats (Philippians 1:14, 1 Corinthians 4:12, Matthew 5:10)

"And now, O Lord, hear their threats"

Philippians 1:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

1 Corinthians 4:12 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

Matthew 5:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

We can't pray that persecution to be gone, but we can only endure it, at the worst, we can ask GOD to notice or consider their threats, but not stop it.

B. Ability to speak GOD's Words with great boldness (Titus 2:15, Acts 5:20)

"and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word"

Titus 2:15 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.

Acts 5:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

“Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

GOD's Words have power in themselves but without a bold speaker/preacher, it will amount to nothing.

C. Healing to be done (Psalms 107:20, Matthew 10:8, Matthew 8:8)

"Stretch out your hand with healing power"

Psalms 107:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

Matthew 10:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

Matthew 8:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.

D. Perform signs, wonders and miracles (1 Corinthians 14:22, Mark 16:17, Matthew 12:38-39)

"may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

1. Signs, wonders and miracles are for unbelievers.

It is accepted by GOD if a believer will ask a sign for unbeliever's salvation, but not acceptable to GOD if an unbeliever will ask a sign for himself. The LORD JESUS CHRIST calls it evil and adulterous generation.

1 Corinthians 14:22 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.

Mark 16:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.

Matthew 12:38-39 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”

But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Why was it evil and adulterous to ask for a sign for an unbeliever? Because we need to approach GOD by faith, we don't approach GOD wanting Him to convince us more. (Hebrews 11:6) It's not to see is to believe but for GOD, to please Him we need to believe to see.

Hebrews 11:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.